Johnny Depp (in Jack Sparrow costume) surprises Disney D23 Expo audience

Johnny Depp, arguably the biggest movie star in the world, surprised the audience of Walt Disney Co.'s D23 Expo in Anaheim by sailing on stage in his famous pirate regalia.

As 5,000 fans jumped to their feet, the star emerged in full character, with his bleary ballet of the forever besotted Jack Sparrow.

Cracking wise about rum he also said he'd like a little snack -- that nice frog named Kermit who had been on stage earlier and "probably tastes like chicken."

Disney executive Dick Cook played the straight man for the short presentation and it was the least he could do: The "Pirates" franchise has pulled in more than $1 billion in domestic box-office alone and Depp is also on tap for a fourth, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" in 2011. (An earlier version of this post had scrambled title and date -- blame the blackberry!) Depp is also starring "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Lone Ranger" for the Mouse House.

Depp arrived on stage in gliding replica of the Black Pearl pirate ship and, before they saw his famous face, the crowd was cheering at the sight of his silhouette behind a billowing back-lit sail and pumping stage smoke. Depp was the big finale in a program that featured appearances by John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Tim Burton and a performance by Miley Cyrus. Check back here more details on the program, as well as info on Guillermo del Toro's newly announced venture with Disney and Pixar.

-- Geoff Boucher

RECENT AND RELATED

D23 may be the start of something special

D23: 'Lost' Mickey Mouse cartoon from the 1950s will be screened

ABC brings its new comedy stars to D23 in search of an audience

Keeping time: Bob Iger's Mickey Mouse watch story

Thriller or just Bad? Disney may revive Captain EO  

D23 Day One: It's a small crowd after all

Disney and Marvel: What will it mean?

Pinocchio and wishing on a 70-year-old star

Photo of Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow by Walt Disney Pictures

Comments

[Pamela]

Since when is Johnny Depp the biggest star in the world?? No offense, he's very talented, but I must have missed that memo...

[Margaret]

I would have loved to see this just to see this would totally be worth me coming to the disney expo Just love love love Johnny Depp cant wait for the alice and wonderland movie to come out.

[patrick paduch]

Folks,
I love days like this when it has been a little hard to get through and i stumble upon somethin godd about the world...namely DISNEY. You guys can not imagine how much good you do for the world. Please keep it up.
Regards

[patrick paduch]

Folks,
I would like to replace my first comment with this comment which does not have bad typos!

I love days like this when it has been a little hard to get through and I stumble upon something good about the world...namely DISNEY. You guys can not imagine how much good you do for the world.
Please keep it up.
Regards

[am_underground]

Pamela,

Since he's the only actor alive today that steps out of the box to act. Not since Sean Penn has someone shown the versatility and depth like Depp and Penn never put on a full blown costume. He may not please most people and box office, but in most cases you cannot afford to miss him on screen.

[oakley]

Uh. Geoff...the "Black Pear"? Is the L too drunk on rum to get back on the ship? ;-D

I'll start scouring Youtube for the footage now...

[x181]

ever since the media made him the biggest star in the world; just to suck money out of you.

[Malcolm Powder]

Black Pearl presumably?

[Cara]

I second that. I didn't get the "biggest star in the world" memo. I'm a little surprised to hear Depp headline over Cage and Travolla.

FYI - It's Black Pearl, not Black Pear.

[Geoff Boucher]

Sorry for the Black Pearl typo, I was jabbing away at my Blackberry and missed a letter. The dangers of deadlines in the digital age. Please forgive me all, yes, I know the name of the ship!
And I stand by the argument that Depp is the biggest star in the world at the moment. There's a reason he came out last. And it's news above Travolta and Cage because they were announced in advance and surprises are news by their nature.

[No way]

Uhh, if you really think he's the biggest star in the world, can you quantify that? Otherwise it's a lame way to open a story since it's a pretty dubious claim.

[avlisk]

I vote for Ricky Gervais as the Biggest Star on the planet.

[Wendy]

It's OK Geoff! Depp's big in my book!

What an awesome surprise! Wish I could have been there but some footage on Youtube will have to suffice!

[Robert Mcguiers]

haha

[Robert Mcguiers]

what

[YesDeppIsABigStarr]

To those who said they didn't get the memo re: Depp being a huge star. Erm, why do you think Pirates 2 and 3 made hundreds of millions of dollars. The writing for both SUCKED yet people saw the film more than once and it was a bigger success internationally. Yeah, he's a big star. Check out Boxofficemojo and other sights that show how much his films earn domestic and intentionally.

I'm not on the Depp train, but I can at least see his star power.

[brian]

i also throw in my hat in the ring that says depp is arguably the biggest star in the world, arguably being the key word here

the only other in contention would be pitt.

lets turn this comment section into

"who is (arguably) the biggest star in the world" voting poll!

[Kate]

I don't go and see every movie that Depp is in, so in *MY* world he isn't the "biggest star" but you can't deny that people go and see his movies in large numbers. Travolta and Cage are, in my opinion, larger than Depp. Both Travolta and Cage have taken on different characters and worn costumes in their movies, so they are willing to step out of the box too.

[Wow]

I would've loved to have seen that! However if I were there and had to experience the wailing of (ugh) miley cyrus, I probably would've taken a sharpened pencil and destroyed my eardrums to save myself from that horrid wailing disney calls "music"

[alan clemens]

the writer did say, "arguably".

[Dan]

I think Ruby Gettinger is the biggest star on the planet (and I say that as a fan).

[shaun]

You got the release date wrong too, guy. It's clearly stated as 2011, not 2012.

[Dia]

Since he walked onto a movie set and they began filming, thats how long he's been the biggest movie star in the world.

[Ava]

Gosh, you guys are annoying as hell, critiquing every typo or OPINION, such as Depp being ARGUABLY the biggest star in the world. Just enjoy the article for what it is. A nice story about the ever-gracious Depp willing to do anything to please fans. Relax.

[Robert]

Depp is FAR bigger a star than Travolta (a has been who got 2nd life thanks to Q) and Nick (there is no franchise too low for me too stoop) Cage.

I'm not a huge Depp fan, but no doubt, he is the biggest and most recognizable star today.
He guarantees an opening and is perhaps the best actor of his generation.

Damn River Phoenix.
Why did you have to OD?